If I live in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. Virgin
Islands, how and when will I get my economic impact payment (EIP)?

Special rules apply to beneficiaries living in the U.S. territories. In general, the tax
authority in each territory, not the IRS, will pay the EIP to eligible residents based on information
the IRS will provide to the territories. It is anticipated that beneficiaries in the
territories could begin receiving their EIP in early June. People should contact their local tax authority
with questions about these payments. Please note their website may use the term “Economic Impact Payment”
or “stimulus payment.”

Where can I get answers to my Economic Impact Payments (EIP) questions?

You can find answers to most of your EIP-related questions at the IRS’ Economic Payment
Information Center webpage or on this webpage. If you do not see the answer to your question, you can call the Internal Revenue Service’s EIP hotline at 1-800-919-9835. The Social Security Administration cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation.

Do you have a representative payee or you are a representative payee?

Since the IRS is processing payments automatically based on a filed tax return, and processing payments
for people who use their Non-Filer Tool, these payments from the IRS could be made directly to someone
with a
representative payee.

If you use or used the IRS’ Non-Filer Tool to enter dependent information, you will not receive your
automatic $1,200 payment on your Direct Express card. You will receive both your $1,200 payment and each
child’s $500 payment on a non-Direct Express bank account you can provide, or by mail if you leave bank
information empty, and only if the IRS has not already processed your $1,200 payment. If you started
receiving Social Security (retirement, survivors, disability) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) before
January 1, 2020, you did not file a tax return in 2019 or 2018, and you have a qualifying child under 17,
your deadline established by the IRS to enter information in its Non-Filer Tool has passed. You will still
receive your automatic $1,200 payment on your Direct Express card, but you will need to file a tax return
next year to get a $500 payment per qualifying child. Social Security and SSI recipients who started
receiving their monthly benefit on or after January 1, 2020 may still use the Non-Filer Tool for their
qualifying child.

Social Security Beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients

Important deadlines set by the IRS have passed for people receiving Social Security (retirement,
survivors, disability) or SSI who did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return and have a qualifying
child under age 17. The IRS’ deadline to use the IRS’ Non-Filer Tool to
enter their and their child’s information to receive $500 per qualifying child now was April 22 for Social
Security and May 5 for SSI. If you missed your deadline, you must wait until next year to file a tax year
2020 tax return to receive the $500 payment. However, you will still receive your $1,200 payment now
without having to wait until next year

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients

Please note that we will not consider economic impact payments as income for SSI
recipients, and the payments are excluded from resources for 12 months.

The IRS has processed most economic impact payments to SSI recipients who are dually entitled to SSI and
Social Security, and to SSI recipients if they filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return.

SSI recipients who did not file a 2019 and 2018 return and who do not have a representative payee should
receive their electronic payment from the IRS by May 13 by direct deposit or to their Direct Express card
if they did not use the IRS’ Non-Filer Tool. If you used the IRS’ Non-Filer Tool, you will receive your
payment by May 13 to the non-Direct Express bank account you may have provided. The IRS will begin mailing
paper checks on May 15 to SSI recipients who receive their monthly SSI payment by paper check, and to SSI
recipients who used the IRS’ Non-Filer Tool but left the bank account information empty.

The IRS has processed most economic impact payments for Social Security (retirement, survivors,
disability) beneficiaries whether they did or did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return, except for a
beneficiary who did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return who also has a representative payee. If the
beneficiary used the IRS’ Non-Filer Tool, the IRS is processing payments weekly, even if the beneficiary
may have a representative payee.

How will the IRS send my economic impact payment (EIP) if I have a
representative payee?

Date: June 1, 2020

If you filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return: Your $1,200 EIP was or will be sent to the bank account provided
on your tax return for an electronic tax refund, or mailed to the address provided on your tax return if a
tax refund was mailed or if there was no refund.

If you did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return:

An Individual Representative Payee should begin receiving EIPs on May 28
(revised from May 22) to the same direct deposit account or Direct Express card as the recipient’s
monthly Social Security or SSI payment. The mailing of paper check EIPs to payees will begin May 27.

For an Organizational Representative Payee, the schedule above is the same, except that the
payee may receive the EIP electronically or by paper check in the mail.

Typically, check payments to representative payees are clearly designated. For example, “Susan Smith for”
on the first line of the check and the second line of the check displays the beneficiary’s name. For EIP
checks, there may be instances where the representative payee’s name on the first line of the check is
truncated, or missing the “for” designation, or the “for” designation could appear twice. These anomalies
should not, in and of themselves, prevent financial institutions and check cashers from processing the
check.

How should a representative payee use a beneficiary’s economic impact payment (EIP)?

Date: May 1, 2020

The EIP belongs to the Social Security or SSI beneficiary. It is not a Social Security or SSI benefit. A
representative payee should discuss the EIP with the beneficiary. If the beneficiary wants to use the EIP
independently, the representative payee should provide the EIP to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary asks
the representative payee for assistance in using the EIP in a specific manner or saving it, the
representative payee can provide that assistance outside the role of a representative payee.

What responsibilities does the representative payee have in managing the
beneficiary’s economic impact payment (EIP)?

Date: May 1, 2020

Under the Social Security Act, a representative payee is only responsible for managing Social Security or
SSI benefits. An EIP is not such a benefit. A representative payee should discuss the EIP with the
beneficiary. If the beneficiary wants to use the EIP independently, the representative payee should
provide the EIP to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary asks the representative payee for assistance in
using the EIP in a specific manner or saving it, the representative payee can provide that assistance
outside the role of a representative payee.

Because an EIP is not a Social Security or SSI benefit, representative payees are not required to account
for the EIP when they complete their annual accounting form.

What if a beneficiary alleges a representative payee misused the economic impact
payment (EIP)?

Date: May 1, 2020

Because an EIP is not a Social Security or SSI benefit, SSA does not have authority to investigate or
determine whether the EIP has been misused. However, if SSA receives an allegation that the EIP was not
used on behalf of the beneficiary, SSA may decide to investigate for possible misuse of the beneficiary’s
Social Security or SSI benefit payments. SSA may also determine the representative payee is no longer
suitable and appoint a new representative payee.

What is the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) Card being sent to some people?

Date: June 1, 2020

The Department of the Treasury announced on May 18 that it is starting to send nearly 4 million EIPs by
prepaid debit card, instead of by paper check. EIP Card recipients can make purchases, get cash from
in-network ATMs, and transfer funds to their personal bank account without incurring any fees. Additional
information is available in Treasury’s
press release. EIP Card recipients can read more about their debit card at www.eipcard.com. Please note that the EIP Card is not the same as the
Direct Express Debit Card on which many Social Security and SSI beneficiaries receive their monthly
benefit payment. If you need to request a replacement EIP debit card, please call the EIP Card call center
at 1-800-240-8100.

The IRS has made some recent changes to the EIP Card fees. Visit the EIP Card FAQ webpage for the latest information.

Stay Informed

How can I stay updated about what SSA is doing during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Date: March 16, 2020

Please continue to check this web page for updates. You may select
Subscribe above to receive
alerts from us when we add or change information on this page.

Monthly Benefits and Other Financial Help

Will I continue to receive my Social Security benefit or
Supplemental Security Income payment if I use Direct Deposit?

Date: March 16, 2020

Yes. You will continue to receive your monthly benefit amount if you use Direct
Deposit.

Will I still receive my Social Security benefit or Supplemental Security Income
payment
by mail?

How Do I File for Unemployment Insurance?

We are unable to answer questions about unemployment insurance as each state administers its own program.
Learn more here.

Will unemployment benefits affect my Social Security benefits?

Date: April 27, 2020

Unemployment benefits do not affect or reduce retirement and disability benefits. State unemployment
compensation payments are not wages because they are paid due to unemployment rather than employment.
However, income from Social Security may reduce your unemployment compensation.

Contact your state unemployment office for information on how your state applies the reduction.

Unemployment insurance benefits are considered unearned income. If you, your spouse, or a child living in
your household have any income other than your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment, including
unemployment insurance benefits, you must tell us.

I received financial assistance under the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency
Relief Fund. Will this affect my Supplemental Security Income payment?

Date: June 1, 2020

We do not consider Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund financial assistance as income
or a resource for SSI purposes. Receipt of this assistance will not affect your SSI payment.

Protect Yourself from Scams

What scams should I know about?

Date: March 31, 2020

This question consolidates and replaces previous questions related to scams.

Unfortunately, there are scammers who will take advantage of the current situation and try to trick you
out of your money and personal information. Don’t be fooled!

If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the U.S. Treasury Department,
the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, or another government agency offering
COVID-19 related grants or economic impact payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an
advance fee, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, please do not respond. These are
scams. Visit Treasury’s website if you
suspect
economic impact payment fraud. Report Social Security scams about COVID-19.

Below are some of the scams we know about, but there can be many variations:

The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning the public about fraudulent letters
threatening suspension of Social Security benefits due to COVID-19-related office closures. We will not
suspend or discontinue benefits because our offices are closed to the public for in-person service. Read this and other
fraud advisories.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General is alerting the public
about fraud schemes related to COVID-19. For example, scammers are offering COVID-19 tests to Medicare
beneficiaries in exchange for personal details, including Medicare information. However, the services are
unapproved and illegitimate. Learn
about this and other COVID-19 fraud from HHS.

If you cannot use our online services, we can help with certain critical issues by
phone and mail. Please see our question, "How
will SSA help me by phone?"

Will SSA provide in-person services during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Date: March 18, 2020

No. Please do not come into one of our local offices. We cannot accept walk-in
visitors at this time.

On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, we suspended face-to-face service to the public in our
field offices and hearings offices nationwide until further notice. This decision protects the
population we serve—older Americans and people with underlying medical conditions—and our employees during
the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

How can I find out if my Social Security office is open?

Date: May 26, 2020

All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting
Tuesday,
March 17, 2020. This decision protects the population we serve—older Americans and people
with underlying
medical conditions—and our employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, we
are still
able to provide critical services.

If you need to contact your local office for a dire need situation, please look for the
local office telephone number at Social
Security Office Locator under “Social Security Office Information” for the office
you select. The toll-free “Office” number is your local office. Please visit our Office Closings and
Emergencies page for the latest information about office closings.

What can I do online?

Date: March 25, 2020

You can conduct most business online with our secure and convenient online services.
Our online services are available from anywhere and from any of your devices. You
can:

We also have information to answer most of your Social Security questions online,
without having to speak with a Social Security representative. Please visit our Frequently
Asked Questions.

Can SSA help me by phone?

Date: May 26, 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are asking the public to first try to use our online services
before calling us.

If you cannot use these online services, although our offices are closed to the public, employees from
those offices are assisting people by telephone. You can find the phone number for your local office by
using our Field Office Locator and looking under Social Security
Office Information. The toll-free “Office” number is your local office.

If you cannot use our online services or reach your local office, you may call our National
800 Number,
where you may be able to take care of your business by using one of our automated telephone services
without having to
wait for a telephone agent. If you need to speak with an agent, be aware that wait times may be longer
than usual, which is why we encourage you to try our online services or call your local office first.

I had a scheduled appointment, what do I need
to do?

Date: April 14, 2020

If you already have a scheduled appointment, we will attempt to contact you by phone at your appointment
time and/or reschedule for a telephone appointment.

Note: Scammers may try to take advantage of this situation. Remember that our employees will never
threaten you or ask for any form of immediate payment.

How can I get a new or replacement Social Security number card?

Date: May 26, 2020

A Social Security number (SSN) is important because you need it to get a job, collect Social Security
benefits, and get some other government services. However, please note that you may not need the
physical SSN card for many of these services.

New Card Requests

We assign the vast majority of SSNs and issue SSN cards at birth. We will continue to process new card
requests through our automated processes for newborns as part of the hospital registration process (we
call that process Enumeration at Birth). We will also continue
to process SSNs and issue cards for certain lawful immigrants [we call these processes Enumeration at Entry (EAE)
and Enumeration beyond Entry
(EBE)].

If these automated processes are not available to you, we may be able to offer an
in-office appointment for a new card request based on available staff and office operating status. Please
call your local office to see if an in-office appointment is necessary and possible. To contact your local
office, please look for the local office telephone number at Social Security
Office Locator under “Social Security Office Information” for the office you select. The toll-free
“Office” number is your local office.

Replacement Card Requests

You may be able to request a replacement card online with your personal mySocial Security account. Visit our Social
Security Number and Card page to learn how. We will also continue to process replacement card
requests through our automated processes for EAE and EBE. If you cannot request a
replacement card online or through EAE or EBE, call your local office and request that
we mail you an SSN printout instead of a
replacement Social Security card. We are unable to process replacement Social Security card requests by
phone at this time.

If your employer is unable to complete Section B, please complete that portion on behalf of your
employer without your employers signature and submit one of the following forms of secondary evidence:

income tax form that shows health insurance premiums paid;

W-2s reflecting pre-tax medical contributions;

pay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions;

health insurance cards with a policy effective date;

explanations of benefits paid by the GHP or LGHP; or

statements or receipts that reflect payment of health insurance premiums.

Will SSA extend our deadlines to provide documentation
and other information?

Date: March 18, 2020

Yes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are extending deadlines wherever possible.

If we asked you to contact us by a certain date, please do not come to the
office.
You can contact us once our offices reopen to the public or you can mail your documents
to us. We will
follow up with you once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

We are providing maximum flexibility in applying our good cause policy. This policy
allows us to
extend the time limits for submitting appeals and taking other actions during this
pandemic.

Is Representative Payee monitoring continuing during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Date: April 9, 2020

Yes. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state Protection and Advocacy (P&A) networks will
conduct any new representative payee monitoring reviews by phone or mail to comply with the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention’s social distancing guidelines. The P&As are also completing pending
reviews initiated before the COVID-19 pandemic.

What workloads is SSA not doing during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Date: April 10, 2020

We have suspended the following workloads until further notice:

We will not start or complete any current medical continuing disability reviews.

If you have a medical continuing disability review pending, please do not request medical
information from your doctors at this time. We will follow up with you for any medical evidence once
the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

If you are waiting for a hearing on your continuing disability review decision and you continue to
receive benefit payments, we will schedule your hearing once our offices reopen to the public. Note:
If you are waiting for a hearing on your continuing disability review decision but you are not
currently receiving benefits, we will proceed with your hearing.

We will not conduct any non-disability hearings.

Where possible, we are suspending our processing and collection of overpayments.

We are not conducting organization or individual representative payee accountings.

We will not be able to process a third party request for information, except from
appointed
representatives and representative payees.

We will not process any Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Hearings

Should I contact the SSA hearing office about my hearing?

Date: April 10, 2020

When to call the local Hearing Office:

Hearing Office employees can help you with the following issues:

Confirming your availability for a telephone hearing, or documenting that you would like a
postponement if you would prefer to wait until an in-person or video hearing is available.

Updating your records to ensure we have the appropriate telephone number and address.

Important Note: If you already have a scheduled appointment, we will attempt to contact you
by phone and/or reschedule for a telephone appointment. Our call may come from a PRIVATE
number and not from a U.S. Government phone.
We know that some scammers are trying to take
advantage of this situation. Please remember that our
employees will never threaten you or ask for any form of immediate payment.

If your offices are closed, will I still have my
hearing?

Date: April 10, 2020

Yes. At this time, Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are only able to conduct hearings by telephone until
we resume our standard operations. Our hearing office staff will contact you or your representative in
advance of your scheduled hearing to confirm your availability for a telephone hearing and ensure we have
your accurate contact information.

Am I required to have my hearing by telephone?

Date: April 10, 2020

No. Telephone hearings are not mandatory. When our hearing office staff contacts you or your
representative in advance of the hearing, you may ask us to postpone your hearing until we resume standard
operations and can hold your hearing in the manner you were originally scheduled (i.e. in person or by
video). When we reschedule your hearing, we will send a notice giving you the new date, time and place of
your hearing. We will send this notice at least 20 days before the date of the new hearing.

Will I still have my hearing with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who was
assigned to my case?

Date: April 10, 2020

Generally, yes. Our ALJs are available to hold telephone hearings. In the event a technical difficulty
arises before your hearing and we need to reassign your case to another ALJ, we will follow our typical
instructions on backfilling, which are available in HALLEX
I-2-1-55F.

I use Appointed Representative Services or Electronic Records Express, and I am
locked out of my account. What do I do?

Date: May 26, 2020

For questions or concerns regarding Appointed Representative Services (ARS) password resets, Electronic
Records Express (ERE) password resets, and new ERE account registration, please call
1-866-691-3061. Agents are available to assist you from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
After hours questions about password resets and new ERE account registration may be emailed to electronic-records-express@ssa.gov.

Appointed Representatives experiencing problems with accessing electronic folders should contact the OHO.HQ.ARS@ssa.gov mailbox for assistance.

COVID-19 Resources

For the latest information on the coronavirus pandemic, including symptoms, how to
protect yourself, and travel advisories, visit these resources: